Tribunal On Iraq To Convene In Istanbul On June 23

World Tribunal On Iraq To Convene In Istanbul On June 23rd

Leading international figures among the Panel of Advocates

13 April 2005, Istanbul, Turkey - The organisers of the World Tribunal on Iraq (WTI) held a press conference today at the Sabanci University Communication Center in Istanbul providing details of the final session of the Tribunal that will be held at the Topkapi Palace Grounds in Istanbul between the 23rd and the 27th of June. The panel of advocates will include leading international figures, such as Dennis Halliday, Prof. Richard Falk and Scott Ritter (1). The final session in Istanbul will reach a decision on the 27th of June, following an examination of the results of the previous sessions as well as investigate new reports and testimonies.

“Taking its cue from the Russell Tribunal of the late 1960s, the World Tribunal on Iraq is aimed at challenging the silence around the aggression against Iraq and seeking the truth about the war and occupation in Iraq. This will be a process of listening, reflection, evaluation and informed judgement based on concrete evidence.” commented Melek Taylan, spokesperson for the WTI, at the press conference today.

The World Tribunal on Iraq is a worldwide initiative that works together in a non- hierarchical system as a horizontal network of local groups worldwide. The project consists of commissions of inquiry and sessions held around the world investigating various issues related to the war on Iraq, such as the legality of the war, the role of the United Nations, war crimes and the role of the media as well as the destruction of the cultural sites and environment (2). In these sessions, a platform was provided for people from Iraq, as well as experts and activists to articulate their concerns and demands and to present their reports.

“By this tribunal we are also aiming to leave a record to history of what actually happened and how it happened in Iraq through a book that will include all the evidence put together. Since the so called international community is at the moment incapable of judging the reasons and the actors responsible for the killings of innocent people in Iraq, the people of the world will take the initiative on its behalf.” concluded Mrs. Taylan.

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